My '68. AKA Achilles

isn't much right now, but I've been working on this at work in my free time since its kinda slow the last couple weeks. I went to training for Chrysler a couple weeks ago and learned how to use the cool setup tools for their axles. My old D44 is the same internally as a new TJ Rubicon8) Only thing different is how to set up the pinion bearing preload.

I sandblasted the whole housing over the weekend and painted the housing on tuesday using some tractor and implement paint from tsc. Got some of the hardener to go along with it. Its now a nice low gloss black. I'll be using the same thing to paint the frame for the 68 once I get done with it. I have about half of the frame blasted right now. I keep running into moisture problems from my compressor right now so I have to work in small chunks


I had to rebuild the powerloc diff since whoever Mike got it from put the diff together wrong. I'm pretty sure the pinion preload shims were on the wrong side of the outer pinion bearing too. That and a pinion bearing that had some pitted rust on 3 of the rollers made some pretty bad squeeling.

Finally decided to go with the 4.27's that I have in there now. I'm planning on regearing the D30 thats been collecting dust in my shed too once I get the frame done and this axle done. That one should be alot easier to do since I just have to swap the R&P


This jeep will be SPOTLESS! I will not half@$% this jeep this time. Engine's been rebuilt, tcase has been gone thru. Trying to decide on the transmission. Rebuild the T14 just to rebuild it and make sure its good for another 30 years, or go with a sm420 or 465 that I have sitting in the garage too...

Oh yea. I have everything for power steering. Seriously thinking about adding that too.
I need springs since I don't have any at all for it. Thinking about a 2 1/2" spring lift with 33"s That seems to look really good under most jeeps.